For months, MaineDOT has promised this is the year they would repave Route 27 from U.S. 1 to Boothbay, and from Boothbay to the intersection of Route 96.

In English, that translates from Route 1 to the Boothbay roundabout. And from the roundabout to the stoplight in front of Hannaford.

Last month, prompted by readers who think I am in the know (I am not) I asked MaineDOT when they would start.

This is the main way on and off the peninsula for 1,500 or so cars that come to town every day. It is also the main road tourists use to access our wonderful summer attractions. It is no secret our businesses and facilities need these beloved visitors to help them keep the doors open.

I emailed Maine DOT last week and asked when the project might start. They said it would be put out to bid on July 20. That means it should begin in July, but, and there is always a but, that would depend on the bid and the contractor.

Oh, there is another wrinkle to consider. There are some culverts that need to be updated to meet the Corps of Engineers standards. Those culverts can only be worked on between July 15 and Sept. 30. After that is done, paving is supposed to begin. It is supposed to end in early summer of 2025.

Translating this "government speak" for you, Dear Reader, I take that as a definite maybe.

In any event, they say the bulk of the work would be done at night.

The second inquiry comes from some of the 4,000 or so customers who get their bills/catalogs at the East Boothbay Post Office.

Last summer, they closed that branch due to building issues. Customers were directed to the Boothbay Harbor branch where temporary mailboxes were provided.

Well, the USPS is now looking for a new location in EB, and Dan Bryer, the Boothbay town manager, is trying to help, too. So far, no new location has been selected, although many customers suggest the nearby fire station might provide a good alternative.

Meanwhile, to help out EB customers, the post office has installed a drop box on School Street near the fire station where customers can deposit outgoing letters.

Postal officials hope that would save the EB customers another trip into town to drop off their bills and birthday cards for friends and relatives.

If you drove into town last week, it looks different than it did the week before. There is nary a vacant parking spot on the street. Our friendly tourists have arrived, and watch out for them - please. As they wander in and out of our local businesses and eateries, they frequently stroll down the roads snapping selfies and peck at their smartphones.

This weekend starts a weeklong celebration of our maritime heritage – Windjammer Days. It is the first big tourist weekend of the 2024 season. Good luck to all.

The TV weatherman/women and their friends at NOAA tell us we will experience unprecedented high temperatures this week. Some looked into their computerized crystal balls and predicted we could see temperatures nearing 100F in the northern counties. If that is the case, please be careful.

When we built our home, my East Boothbay bride, God rest her soul, convinced me not to include air-conditioning. She said that would be an unnecessary expense. Besides, the money we budgeted for air-conditioning could be used for other items. When I asked her which items, she referred me to the comprehensive report of the family decorating committee. For the record, I was not a member of that committee. We did install a large fan in the attic. It serves to cool the house, but if the outside temperature is in the mid-90s, that may not be much help.

Meanwhile, as the presidential election cycle grinds toward November, the battling grandpas are sharpening their attacks. Grandpa Donald is complaining about the corrupt justice system that convicted him of a batch of felonies. Grandpa Joe promises not to pardon his son who was just convicted by the same justice department that Grandpa Donald is complaining about. FYI, the presidential debate is scheduled for June 27.  I wonder if one or both of them will try to weasel out of that event.

Stay cool.